Apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid into containers



Jan. 1, 1946. R McKlNNls 2,392,054

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID INTO CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

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APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLINQ THE FLOW OF LIQUID INTO CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

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grwwvbo'a i RONALD B. McKl/VN/S .1..IInnMIIIIIIIIHWW i -33. S3 3 3398 58 kt 2,392,054 TAINERS Jan. 1, 1946. R. B. MCKINNIS APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID INTO CON Filed Feb. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RONALD B. McK/NN/S Patented Jan. 1, 1946 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID TO CON TAINERS Ronald B. McKinnis, Winter Haven, Fla.

Application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,303

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to controlling the flow of liquids, and more particularly 'to an apparatus for rapidly filling containers with oxidizable liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices so that after the desired amount of liquid has been introduced into the container the introduction of the liquid will be arrested.

Heretofcre, in filling containers with oxidizable liquids by means of an electric relay controlled solenoid valve wherein the level of the liquid in' the container controls the current flow to the relay, extreme diiiiculty has been encountered for preventing chattering of the relay. As a consequence, positive control of the flow of liquid cannot be effected. It is the customary practice with such filling methods to utilize such devices a float operated switch or a pair of electrodes functioning with the surface of the liquid in the container to cause the relay to drop out, thereby closing the valve when the liquid in the container has attained a predetermined level.

Due to the surge of liquid flowing into the container, vibration of the filling machine and other causes. there will be a certain amount of turbulence and foaming of the liquid which means of course, there will be a fluctuation of the surface level in the container. This surface fluctuation naturally results in the periodic making and breaking of the electrical contact to the relay which causes it to chatter with the consequent opening and closing of the filling valve. By virtue of this undesirable feature, it will be readily appreciated that accurate control of the liquid flow is practically impossible.

' It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an electrically controlled filling machine whereby the flow of liquid is positively shut ofi when the-level of the liquid has reached a predetermined height in the container and the cycle cannot'be started again until a subsequent container is in position for the filling operation. I

The apparatus is generally similar to that set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 402,830, filed July 17, 1941. More specifically, this machine embraces the concept of momentarilysupplying electrical energy to actuate a relay controlling the flow of both purging fluid and oxidizable liquids, continuing to supply the current to the relay through a maintaining circuit and breaking the current to the maintaining circuit by the level of the liquid in the container whereby the flow of liquid to the container is completely'arrested. v i An object of my invention isto provide a machine for controlling the flow of liquid into a container, the liquid fiow is arrested completely upon the desired volume of liquid being introduced into the container. I 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for filling juices into containers under conditions preventing atmospheric oxygen to the juice so that the fiow of juice into the container will be stopped upon the juice attaining a prede termined level.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for momentarily supplying electrical energy to initiate a flow of the current, continuing the flow of the current and breaking the last mentioned current supply when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the container.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying f drawings means for carrying the same into prac- 30' tical effect Without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

Figure l is a top plan view of the filling machine employed for carrying out my method showing in detail the mode by which the empty containers are introduced into the filling machine and the means by which they are removed after the filling operation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. i V

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the control circuit'that is employed to carryout my inventive concept.

Figure 5 is a fragmental view partly in section showing the manner in'which the starting switch is momentarily closed and also'illustrating the means by which the switchismoved to the Figure 6- is a sectional view-taken along'thehaving rotatably mounted thereon a filling table 2 and telescoped on and rotatable with the table is a superstructure 3. Supported suitably by the super-structure 3 by means of a bracket 4 is a plurality of valve assemblies 5. Each valve assembly 5 includes a valve for controlling the flow of the purging media such as inert gas, and a juice valve for admitting the juice or other oxidizable liquid into the container. These. valves are so formed as to permit the juice to be introduced into the container surrounded by a protective blanket of gas. Control units 6 are also suitably supported within the super-structure 3. It should be mentioned that there is a valve unit 5 and a control unit 6 for each container that is adapted to be handled by the filling machine.

Mounted on the table 2 area plurality of yoke members 1, there being one yoke for each valve assembly 5. In Figures 5 and 6, it can be seen that the inner end of a horizontally extending rod 8 projects through an aperture 9 in the yoke 1. Therod 8 carries a cam follower ID, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully discussed. The opposite end of the rod 8 is enlarged as shown at I and it slides longitudinally in a groove l2 formed in a bracket l3 supported suitably on filling table 2 (Figure 8).

A counter-weighted dog I4 is pivoted to one side of the rod 8 as indicated at l5. The dog l4 engages arm N5 of a bell crank H, which is pivotecl to the bracket I3 at the point I8. The other arm of the bell crank I1 is pivoted at I9 to the lower end of a tubular member 20. Tele scoped within the tubular member 20 is a. rod 2| that is clamped to the tubular member as shown at 22. The upper end of the rod 2| projects through an aperture 23 formed in the lower wall or base of the super-structure 3. The end of the rod 2| is adapted to contact spring arm 24 of a switch indicated generally 25. Surrounding the rod 2| immediately below the super-structure is helical spring 26. The upper end of the spring 26 contacts the lower wall of the superstructur.e 3 and the lower end bears against collar 21 carried by the rod 2| for normally maintaining the contacts of switch 25 open.

As the empty container moves by means of a star wheel S into the yoke 1, as shown in Figure 5, it pushes the rod 8 radially inward, as shown in Figure 6, and this movement causes the dog l4 to rotate the bell crank I! thus imparting vertical movement to the tubular member 28 and hence to the rod 2|. This vertical movement of the rod 2| causes closing of the contacts or the switch 25, thereby completing an electrical circuit. However, as the rod 8 nears the limit of its longitudinal travel, the dog M will ride under the end of the bell crank I! thus permitting the spring 26 to move the rod 2| downwardly to its normal position and this movement will of course open the contacts of the switch 25. Consequently, only a momentary or starting current issupplied to the electrical control to initiate a fiow of back to its radially extended position.

purging fluid to th container. As wlllbe described later, a separate circuit for maintaining the fiow of purging fluid and also flow of juice is provided. After the table 2 has moved the container out of engagement with the star wheel S the container remains in its yoke solely by virtue of its own weight. Since, however, the rod 8 is freely mounted in the aperture 9 and groove l2, and the dog M has overridden the bell crank arm l6 ther will be no return force exerted on the rod 8 and consequently, forces tending to displace the container from its filling position in the yoke 'l are eliminated.

This arrangement, namely, the idea of momentarily supplying current to initiate the operation of the purging and juice valves is particularly important in that chattering of the control circuit is positively prevented. In other words, once the liquid or juice reaches the desired level in the container the circuit is opened and no further liquid can be introduced into the container.

After the container has been filled and the valves of the assemblies closed, it is engaged by a wiper 30 to remove the container from the filling machine, whence they are moved to a closing machine (not shown) by suitable conveying means such as a star wheel S. The wiper 30 carries a cam 3| .which engages the cam follower H) on the longitudinal rod 8 and moves the rod This movement of the rod 8 will again bring the dog I4 behind the bell crank H in readiness for the next filling operation.

The electrical control circuit for operating my filling machine is best shown in Figure 4. It will be noted that leads 35 and 3'0 are connected to a. source of 110 volt current. The lead 35 is connected to one end of the windings 31 and 38 of the juice and steam valve solenoid valves 5A and 53 respectively. The other end of the solenoid winding 38 is connected by a lead 39 to one contact point 4.8 of a double armature relay indicated generally 4|. One armature 42 of relay 4| is adapted to make contact with the point 48 and isconnected through lead 43 with the lead 36. The relay 4| under normal conditions is open. The other armature 44 0f the relay 4| is connected by means of conductor 45 with on contact point 46 of the starting switch 25. Winding 50 of the relay 4| is connected between the contact point 46 of the switch 25 and a lead 5| extending to a source of low potential such as a 2 volt line through a. conductor 52.

Connected between the lead 3!! and 35 is the resistance winding 53 of a thermal switch 54, the by'metal contact strip 55 of which is connected at one end to the solenoid winding 31. The opposite end of the strip 55 carries a contact point 56 which is adapted to make contact with point 51 connected to the contact point 40 of the relay 4|.

A normally closed relay has one end of its windings 10 connected to the lead 52 and the opposite end thereof is connected to a shut-off lectrode 6|. nected to the other lead 63 of the low potential line and the armature is adapted to contact a co n tact point 64. The contact point 54 is connected through line 65 with the other contact point 49 of the starting switch 25. A second shut-off electrode 66 is connected by a line 61 with lead 63.

In operation, when the starting switch 25 is momentarily closed by a container moving onto the filling table and engaging the rod 8, current is supplied to relay 4| through lead 53, closed relay 50.

Armature 62 of the relay 50 is con-v starting switch 25, winding 50 of relay 4| and lead 52 back to lead 5|. This efiects the energization of the winding 50 and causes the relay 4| to close. Current then fiows from the 110 volt line through lead 36, armature 42, conductor 39. through solenoid winding 38 and the lead which opens the steam valve and supplies purging fluid to the in erior of the container. Current also flows to the heating element 53 of the thermal switch 54. Upon the ex iration of a predetermined period of time which is controlled by the adjustment of the thermal switch 54 contact is made between the points 56 and 51 thus energizing s lenoid winding 31 to o en the .iuice valve enabling the juice to be introduced into the container.

In view of the fact that the starting switch 25 is only momentarily closed by virtue of the structure herebefore described, operating current is mainta ned to the juice and steam solenoids 31 and 38 through the armature 44 or relay 4| to keep this relay closed until the proper amount of juice has been introduced int the container. When the container has been filled. the body of the juice therein bridges the shut-off electrodes SI and 66 to energize winding 10 of the re ay 60 which causes this relay to drop out and break the circuit to the re ay This. of course de-energizes the solenoids 31 and 38 and effects closing of the respective valves.

It will be a reciated that I have provided a method for initiating the flow of a liouid and continuing such flow until the body of the liouid in the container attains a p e-determined level. at which time the su ply of the liouid is arrested automatica ly. The idea of momentarily su plying the electrical ener y to initiate the flow of the liouid. contin i g to su ply current through a maintaining circuit. and breaking the maintaining circuit throu h t e level of the liouid in the container is particularly efilcacious in that cha te ing of the control circuit is preven ed and posit e control of the filling valves is effected.

Whi e I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my inventi n. I wish it to be understood t at I do not confine myself to the p ecise details herein set forth by way of illustration. as it is ap arent that many changes and variations may be made t erein. by those skilled in the art. without depart n from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appe ded claims.

I claim:

1. In a container filling apparatus having a normally closed fi l ng valve. means for mov ng a container to he filled into fillin position with respect to said valve and additional means for movingthe filled container fr m said filling position, means operative for initially opening said valve, supplementary means rendered operative by operation of the initial opening means to maintain the valve open during the filling operation and means operative upon filling of the container to render the supplementary means inoperative and ermit closing of the valve, mechanism for actuating the initial opening means comprising means displaceable by movement of a container into filling position. transmission means interposed between the displaceable means and said initial opening means and disengageable from said displaceable means upon actuation of the initial opening means to permit the latter to return to inoperative position, the displaceable means being constructed and arranged to maintain its displaced position of its own accord after disengagement therewith of the transmission means, and means associated with the container removing means and temporarily engaging the displaceable means only as the container is removed thereby from filling position to return the displaceable means to its initial position.

2. In a container filling apparatus having a normally closed filling valve, means for moving a container to b filled into filling position with respect to said valve and additional means for moving the filled container from said filling position, means operative for initially opening said valve, supplementary means rendered operative by operation of the initial opening means to maintain the valve open during the filling operation and means operative upon filling of the container to render the supplementary means inoperative and permit closing of the valve, mechanism for initially actuating the initial opening means comprising a first member displaceable by movement of a container into filling position, a second member displaceable to actuate the initial opening means, means includin a pair of overriding element carried respectively by said members, said elements interengaging during displacement of the first member to displace the second member and then disengaging adjacent the termination of said displacement to permit the second member to return to its initial position and permit the initial opening means to become inoperative, the first member being constructed and arranged to maintain its displaced position of its own accord after disengagement of said overriding elements, and means associated with the container removing means and temporarily engaging the first member only as the container is removed from filling position to return the first member to its initial position.

3. In a container filling machine wherein a container to be filled is moved in a circular path in a filling position beneath anormally closed. filling valve moving concurrently with said container, said machine having means for moving the container to be filled into said filling position and additional means including a wiper element disposed at an angle to said path to remove the filled container outwardly therefrom, mean operative to initially open the valve, supplementary means rendered operative by the initial opening means to maintain the valve open and means operative upon filling the container to render the supplementary means inoperative and permit the valve to close, mechanism for actuating the initial closing means comprising a first member displaceable radially inwardly with respect to said circular path by movement of the container into filling position, a second member displaceable to actuate the initial opening means, mean including a pair of overriding elements pivotally carried respectively by said members, said elements interengaging during displacement of the first member to displace the second member and disengaging adjacent the termination of said displacement to permit the second member to return to its initial position, a cam follower carried by the first member and a stationary cam element carried by said wiper element and likewise disposed at an angle to said circular path and adapted to engage said follower to move the first member radially outward to its initial position, the movement of said first member radially outward of said circular path being dependent solely upon the said cam.

RONALD B. MCKINNIS. 

